Coat hanger or wall rack



Sept. 24,1946. WQSCURRAH 2,408,344 COAT HANGER OR WALL RACK v Filed Feb. 12, 1945 771 ve n'wr wiHia-m Sap- 7 Patented Sept. 24, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COAT R WALL RACK William Scurrah, Toronto flntario, Application February 12, 1945, Serial No. 5773404 1 Claim. 1

My invention relates to improvements in coat hangers and racks for hanging clothes and has for its object the provision of an article of this nature of a highly serviceable and useful character.

In one aspect of my invention is comprehended a coat hanger having a frame provided with a plurality of gripping devices along its bottoom for suspension of articles. The novelty of the hanger is that the gripping devices are composed of jaws integrally with the frame and pivoted fingers having spring-pressed jaws co-acting with said jaws. The gripping devices are arranged for the suspension of articles singly or jointly as required and are particularly suitable for hanging up such apparel as a womans slip or skirt. The

gripping devices do not detract from the normal use of the coat hanger but on the other hand increase its utility.

In another aspect of the invention is comprehended a wall rack having a frame in which the gripping devices are supplied for individually or jointly suspending articles.

The drawing illustrates practical embodiment of the invention in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view in elevation of the invention in the form of a coat hanger.

Fig. 21s a vertical section on line 22 thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentari detail in side elevation of the coat hanger depicting one of the gripping devices on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 4 is a cross section on line 44 of Fig, 3.

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the invention in the form of a wall rack.

Referring at first to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, it will be seen that the invention is embodied in a coat hanger of well known pattern havin the usual hook 'I by which it is suspended. The body of the hanger is desirably formed of a solid frame 8 of suitable material. A plastic material may be employed to advantage as will be evident as the description proceeds at greater length.

The frame is a thin member substantially fiat and desirably stiffened by an integral bead 9 at its upper edge 1!). At the lower edge 12 there is provided a longitudinal series of depending lugs I3 integrally formed thereon and projecting from one side thereof which is denoted at M. The lugs are spaced equidistantly along the frame and preferably there arefour of them..

Each lug constitutes a rigid jaw of a gripping device and has its protruding facerounded in a vertical plane and supplied with serrations, as at l5, Or comparable elements to aid in gripping an article of wearing apparel. The serrations are arranged parallelly to the lower edge I2 of said frame, which edge may be stiffened at the side opposite the lugs by a bead l6. Above each lug and spaced therefrom is an ear as at I! vertically disposed and transversely pierced to receive a pin l8. Each ear is integrally formed on the side 14 of the frame and serves to connect a finger [9 by which the gripping device is composed in conjunction with the corresponding jaw. By this arrangement there is provided a finger opposite eachjaw.

Each finger is an elongated member vertically arranged and provided with spaced ears 20 intermediate of its length for straddling the respective ear I"! and receiving the pin [8 by which the finger is pivotally connected. The lower end of the finger has a rounded jaw 2| which co-acts with the jaw l3 and is similarly serrated. The finger is spring pressed in order to urge its jaws to a closed position against its companion. A U- shaped spring 22 is used for this purpose and is seated between the upper end of the finger and the frame 8 with one of its legs engaging the face 14 and retained endwise by a nodule 23. The other leg is fitted in a recess 24 in the finger. This seating arrangement secures the spring against inadvertent displacement inthe operation of the finger. The finger can be easily opened by depressing its upper end as depicted in Fig. 2.

The invention provides a coat hanger of increased utility in that it can be used for hanging slips and other articles of womens wearing apparel by means of the gripping appliances. Additionally it serves as a drier for stockings which can be suspended by the gripping devices and therefore do not come in contact with the line on which the hanger is placed. Consequently there is no likelihood of the stocking becoming marked such as would ensue if they were drieddirectly on a soiled rope line or a wire line.

An advantageous feature of the hanger is that the frame and the fingers of the gripping devices may be manufactured of a mouldable or formable material such as a plastic. The frame may have apertures, as at 25, fashioned in it which may be used for hanging neckties;

In the variant form illustrated in Fig. 5 the invention'is shown as a hanger or rack of the wall type. are embodied on the frame or rail 26 which is attached to a wall by means of the arms 21. gripping devices are similar to those previously described and are used either individually or In this construction the gripping devices The V jointly in the suspension of articles for drying purposes.

It will be manifest that the invention produces an exceedingly useful coat hanger or wall rack of improved construction which can be manufactured at low cost of a plastic material. It is not intended that the invention shall be restricted in its ambit except as defined in the subjoined claim in which the term hanger is intended to define a coat hanger or a rack of the kind described.

What I claim is:

In a device of the class described, a, support of a formable or mouldable material consisting of a,

edge, a horizontal series of jaws integrally formed on said support to project from the lower edge thereof, said jaws each having a serrated face disposed outwardly of a side of said support, ears integrally formed on said support, there being' one ear above each of said jaws disposed on the same side of said support as said serrated faces thereof, a plurality of vertical fingers on said support with one of the fingers pivotally mounted intermediate of its length on each of said ears, each finger having a serrated inner face overlying the jaw, and, springs mounted on said support with one of the springs applying outward pressure on the upper end of each of broad substantially flat-sided member vertically 15 said fingers.

arranged and having a straight horizontal lower WILLIAM SCURRAH. 

